Braces Vs Aligners: Which One Is Better?

Who wouldn’t want a nice pair of teeth? But sometimes you need to work for it! Thankfully, nowadays there are so many ways in which you can achieve your dream smile! But with that being said, a lot of people and kind are unsure what kind of option suits them the best and that’s where a lot of doubt and conflict comes out. The common conflict is between braces and aligners – so which one is better?

The aesthetic side of things

For children and teens, it’s pretty common for that age group to wear visible braces – it’s even quite popular! But if you are a bit older, it can be quite difficult to finally make the big decision to put in braces, some might even be embarrassed by them! Crooked teeth are enough to make someone have low self-esteem and be self-conscious about their looks! Regular metal braces are pretty noticeable even from afar – it’s not necessarily a bad thing at all since they are common, but if you are not fond of getting attention the clear aligners might be a better pick! 

Comfort

Comfort is extremely important, especially for something as long-term as strengthening your teeth, so you want to make it feel at least bearable! The classic metal retainers tend to be quite hard and painful, the more you chew it’s more likely it is that your cheek will get caught along the way! This can obviously create panic in everyone, and you shouldn’t fear such things and feel disheartened, instead, you should opt for the options that seem better for you in the long run! Feeling like braces are too big of a commitment, no worries – you can take off your aligners as soon as you start to feel out of it and you are good to go!

Complexity

Dental work can take time, especially trying to erase and change what’s already there – that’s why making your teeth straight takes time! With regular braces, you’ll need to go get checkups and get it tightened each time, but there are other ways you can improve alignment, make your teeth look nice while not even leaving your home – all you have to do is clean the aligner well and wear it regularly! But on the other hand, if you are not so well organized and responsible, a regular brace might be a better voice, because you’ll simply have to wear it all the time, you won’t be able to choose when to put it in and get it out!

Hygiene

When wearing regular braces, you need to take extra care about hygiene as it’s crucial not to have any bacteria and food buildup that can harm the tooth enamel and create a problem. Avoiding sticky food like gum, candy and anything that can get stuck in your retainer is crucial in keeping it nice and clean! On the other hand, you’ll be taking out your aligners quite a bit, and you want to clean them a lot, never leave them on empty surfaces to collect dust and wash your hands before handling them!

Price

Dental work is pricey, no matter where you go – braces are usually extremely expensive going for around 5000 dollars as a starting price and even going for a lot more than that! On the other hand, aligners are way less expensive. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend on your new teeth, it’s not like you are investing in something that’s not important – this will boost your confidence and make you healthier in the long run! So depending on your chosen dentist, the prices may vary! It’s best that you crunch the numbers in advance and see what suits your wallet the best! 

The final verdict

If you are looking for something permanent and something that will give you a structured plan of action, regular braces are the way to go! Kids and teens are more suitable to get them, as when it comes to adults, aligners are a better choice! Not only are they cheaper, but they are also invisible, so you won’t be bringing a lot of attention to your mouth 24/7! It all depends on the severity of the crookedness and how long you are willing to put up with that kind of task!

 

But at the end of the day, as long as you are taking care of your teeth and wanting to change them for the better, you are on the right path no matter what kind of choice you end up making! Braces and aligners are totally different, by looks, by feel, by price,  but they have one common purpose and that’s to bring you closer to your dream smile!